Columbia, SC- South Carolina Democrats are praising yesterday’s decision by Spartanburg Judge James Hayes to protect South Carolina’s elections from GOP gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley’s mountain of special interest cash. Haley is the recipient of nearly a half-million dollars worth of positive advertising from a group called ReformSC, which has substantial ties to Haley supporter Governor Mark Sanford. The ads, which are no longer on air after an injunction filed by Hayes, sought to introduce Haley to South Carolina voters at a time that her own campaign was not advertising.

“Mark Sanford and Nikki Haley think they can buy this election with special interest cash from secret donors and that nobody will notice,” said South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler. “Instead, they’ve been stymied by the rule of law, and will have to find another way to perpetuate Governor Sanford’s reign of error. Judge Hayes is fighting for free and fair elections in South Carolina; I wish politicians like Ms. Haley who profess to care so much about liberty and free speech wouldn’t require a court order to defend it.”